Infant safety garment having integral means for securing the same

ABSTRACT

A garment which is fitted about the body of the user and has elongated portions extending therefrom which may secure a body to a relatively stable object so as to maintain the garment, and concomitantly the user&#39;&#39;s body, in a predetermined position. The garment of the invention permits unlimited movement of the head or limbs of the user while permitting limited movement of the user within the garment.

United States Patent {72] Inventors William Peter Garrow 5504 DodsworthAve., Glendora, Calif.

91740; Rex L. Neuman, 18313 St. Marys, Detroit, Mich. 48235 [21] Appl.No. 746,633

[22] Filed July 22, 1968 [45] Patented Mar-2,1971

[54] INFANT SAFETY GARMENT HAVING INTEGRAL MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME10 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl. 128/134, 2/49 [51] lnt.Cl.A61fl3/00 [50] Field olSearch 128/132,

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,440,721 5/1948 Leuthy128/134 2,828,738 4/1958 Strelakos.... 128/134 3,407,807 10/1968Giberson 128/134 Primary Examiner-Adele M. Eager Attorney-Roman A. DiMeo ABSTRACT: A garment which is fitted about the body of the user andhas elongated portions extending therefrom which may secure a body to arelatively stable object so as to maintain the garment, andconcomitantly the users body, in a predetermined position. The garmentof the invention permits unlimited movement of the head or limbs of theuser while permitting limited movement of the user within the garment.

INFANT SAFETY GARMENT HAVING INTEGRAL MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME Thisinvention relates to garments and more particularly to garments formaintaining a user thereof in a preset position.

It is often desirable to maintain a body such as that of an infant,small child or incapacitated adult in a preset position so as toprohibit substantial movement thereof thereby insuring the safety andphysical well being of such person. This is particularly true duringperiods of sleep, physical or metal incapacity of a person, whether hebe an infant, small child, or an adult where the attendance of suchperson is impractical or unavailable.

When used, the garment of the instant invention is fitted about the bodyof the user and is then secured about a stable or relatively rigidobject by means carried thereby designed for I that purpose. The meansprovided by the garment for securing the same about a stable orrelatively rigid object may be either snapped, buttoned, hooked or tiedabout the aforesaid object so as toprevent other than a predeterminedlateral or circumferential movement of the users body relative to therigid object. Sufficient spacing between the users body and theenveloping portion of the garment is provided to allow a limited amountof relative movement of the users body within the garment, yet prohibitall except a predetermined lateral or circumferential movement of theusers body relative to the rigid object to which it is secured asaforesaid.

Although the garment of the instant invention is especially beneficialwhen utilized'by humans, particularly infants and small children whilesleeping, with minor modification and without deviating from the scopeof the invention, it may be also used to restrain the movement of anyactive body such as an animal, or the like.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide agarment of inexpensive design and construction having a means formaintaining the user thereof in a preset position without attendancethereof.

Another object is to provide a garment of inexpensive design andconstruction having a means for securing the same about a stable orrigid object so as to prohibit lateral or circumferential movement ofthe user beyond a predetermined position relative to the rigid object.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which: I

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the garment of the instantinvention showing the securing means carried thereby;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the garment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the garment illustrated in FIG. 1showing the ingress means partially open and securable by zipper means,or the like;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the garment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the garment illustrated in FIG. '1;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the garmentillustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the bottom portion thereof is openable andis maintained in a closed position by button means and accommodatingbutton holes (not visible);

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the garment illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the bottom portionof a garment similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6, but showing zippermeans for maintaining said bottom portion in a closed position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the bottom portionof a garment similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6, but showing buttonsnap means for maintaining said bottom portion in a closed position;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the bottomportion of a garment similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6, but showingeye hook means for maintaining said bottom portion in a closed position;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of the unattached ends of the securingmeans illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 wherein said means are comprisedof apair of elongated body extensions capable of being secured to eachother by knotting, or the like;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the securingmeans shown in FIG. 11 wherein the unattached ends of said elongatedbody extensions are capable of being secured to each other byinterengaging button snap means;

FIG. I3 is a fragmentary view of still another embodiment of thesecuring means shown in FIG. 11 wherein the unattached ends of saidelongated body extensions are capable of being secured to each other bybutton means and accommodating buttonholes;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the securingmeans shown in FIG. 11 wherein the unattached ends of said elongatedbody extensions are capable of being secured to each other by zippermeans; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the securingmeans shown in FIG. 11 wherein the unattached ends of said elongatedbody extensions are capable of being secured to each other by eye hookmeans.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, reference numeral 20designates generally the garment of the instant invention which iscomprised of a body 21 provided with a head opening 22 and arm and legopenings 23 and 24, respectively. It is understood, of course, thatalthough the garment of the instant invention is illustrated herein ashaving arm and leg openings, arm and leg portions may be secured to thearm and leg openings, respectively, without deviating from theprinciples of the invention.

Positioned between leg opening 24 is a crotch or bottom portion 25. Aswill be more particularly described hereinafter, bottom portion 25 maybe made openable for easier access to body 21 (see FIG. 6).

Accessibility is allowed into body 21 by means of an opening 26 which ismaintained in a closed position by any conventional securing means 27,such as a zipper (shown here), or the like. It should be noted thatsaidsecuring means 27 may be utilized in either the front portion or therear portion of body 21 without deviating from the scope of theinvention herein.

Attached to body 21 are a plurality. of elongated body portions 28laterally extending therefrom (herein illustrated as a pair thereof).Elongated body extensions 28 are utilized by securing the same about astable or rigid object so as to maintain body 21, and concomitantly, anyform contained therein, in a preset position. Thus, it is obvious thatif an infant or child were accommodated within body 21 and elongatedbody extensions 28 were secured about a mattress or bed, said infant orchild would be maintained in an immobile predetermined position, whethersaid infant or child was asleep or otherwise. It should be noted thatwhen used for this purpose, the infant or child is prohibited fromlateral or circumferential movement yet is capable of slight movement inany direction within the garment itself. It is also obvious that in acase of a person having a physical or mental handicap so as to beincapable of I protecting his own safety, having said person envelopedin such a garment and secured as herein described, the possibility ofthat individual rolling from the bed, or the like, with resulting injurywould be minimized.

To facilitate access to body 21, crotch or bottom portion 29 may bedisengageable from said body 21 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Bottom portion29 is provided with button means 30 which are adapted to be accommodatedin button holes 31 (as best seen in FIG. 7). Alternate means forsecuring crotch or bot tom portion 29 to body 21 are illustrated inFIGS. 8, 9 and 10 consisting of zipper means 32, button snap means 33,and eye hook means 34, respectively.

In FIGS. 11 through 15 various means are illustrated for securing saidelongated body extensions 28 about a stable or relatively rigid object.In FIG. 11 elongated body extensions 28 may be knotted or otherwise tiedabout the object. FIG. 12 illustrates button snap means 35 carried byelongated body extensions 28 wherein said button snap means 35 arecapable of interengagement so as to maintain said elongated bodyextensions 28 securely about an object.

FIG. 13 illustrates body extensions 28 being provided with button means36 and accommodating button holes 37 capable of coacting to secure saidelongated body extensions 28 about an object. In FIGS. 14 and 15, zippermeans 38 and eye hook means 39, respectively, are shown carried byelongated body extensions 28 to provide the aforesaid securing means.

Thus it is evident from the foregoing, that a garment is described whichalthough permits unlimited movement of the head or limbs of a user andlimited movement of the user within the garment, lateral orcircumferential movement thereof is prohibited beyond a predeterminedposition.

While several embodiments of the invention have been described, it isunderstood that the particular embodiment of the invention hereindisclosed are for illustrative purposes only and that various changesmay be made therein without departing from the principles of theinvention or the scope of the annexed claims.

We claim:

1. A garment for securing a user in a preset position, comprising:

a body, said body having front and back portions, top and bottomportions and opposite side portions, said body portions being providedwith openings for inserting a head and limbs therethrough;

a pair of elongated securing portions attached directly to said body andextending from the side portions thereof;

ingress means provided in said body; and

means for securing said ingress means in a closed position.

2. A garment for securing a user in a preset position as described inclaim 1, wherein each of said elongated portions has a free end capableof being secured to each other.

3. A garment for securing a user in a preset position as described inclaim 2, wherein said free ends are provided with interengaging buttonsnaps.

4. A garment for securing a user in a preset position as described inclaim 2, wherein said free ends are provided with buttons andaccommodating buttonholes.

5. A garment for securing a user in a preset position as described inclaim 2, wherein said free ends are provided with interengaging eye hookmeans.

6. A garment for securing a user in a preset position as described inclaim 2, wherein said free ends are provided with zipper means.

7. A garment for securing a user in a preset position as described inclaim 2, wherein said bottom portion is openable and securable in aclosed position by interengaging button snaps.

8. A garment for securing a user in a preset position as described inclaim 2, wherein said bottom portion is openable and securable ina'closed position by buttons and accommodating buttonholes,

9. A garment for securing a user in a preset position as described inclaim 2, wherein said bottom portion is openable and securable in aclosed position by interengaging eye hook means.

10. A garment for securing a user in a preset position as described inclaim 2, wherein said bottom portion is openable and securable in aclosed position by zipper means.

1. A garment for securing a user in a preset position, comprising: abody, said body having front and back portions, top and bottom portionsand opposite side portions, said body portions being provided withopenings for inserting a head and limbs therethrough; a pair ofelongated securing portions attached directly to said body and extendingfrom the side portions thereof; ingress means provided in said body; andmeans for securing said ingress means in a closed position.
 2. A garmentfor securing a user in a preset position as described in claim 1,wherein each of said elongated portions has a free end capable of beingsecured to each other.
 3. A garment for securing a user in a presetposition as described in claim 2, wherein said free ends are providedwith interengaging button snaps.
 4. A garment for securing a user in apreset position as described in claim 2, wherein said free ends areprovided with buttons and accommodating buttonholes.
 5. A garment forsecuring a user in a preset position as described in claim 2, whereinsaid free ends are provided with interengaging eye hook means.
 6. Agarment for securing a user in a preset position as described in claim2, wherein said free ends are provided with zipper means.
 7. A garmentfor securing a user in a preset position as described in claim 2,wherein said bottom portion is openable and securable in a closedposition by interengaging button snaps.
 8. A garment for securing a userin a preset position as described in claim 2, wherein said bottomportion is openable and securable in a closed position by buttons andaccommodating buttonholes.
 9. A garment for securing a user in a presetposition as described in claim 2, wherein said bottom portion isopenable and securable in a closed position by interengaging eye hookmeAns.
 10. A garment for securing a user in a preset position asdescribed in claim 2, wherein said bottom portion is openable andsecurable in a closed position by zipper means.